loveopera

The Lobster pound restaurant - around Lincolnville Beach - 7 miles north of Camden . Fodor's recommends it with a big red star - and we purposely drove there from Camden. Aside from the breeze and the view - THE WORST PLACE WE HAVE EATEN IN THE ENTIRE TRIP! And we have eaten quite a bit..
We had lunch for 2 adults and 2 teenagers and whatever we ordered was VERY mediocre. Lobster roll was just OK – but nothing out of the ordinary. I ordered fish chowder becuase I loved it in a few previous places – it was a solid one piece of fish in a cup of hot milky broth with a few potato pieces. No spices, nothing! Turkey breast sandwich – bland cardboard with gooey gravy, my daughter was even apologetic that she could not eat it. Fries – soggy , etc. I'd say the food was hovering around grade C. OK, I’ll give lobster roll a B. But for over 90 bucks for a lunch for 4 with this quality?
I am usually not a complaining type, but I felt such a disappointment that I was boiling and HAD to talk to the manager. Boy, did he have an attitude! He very insincerely mouthed a formal ‘Sorry-you-did-not-like-out-food’ and forget about any signs of concern! He just turned away from me and started going about his business. Being from NY, I am used to better attitude. Last words he told me – ‘700 people cannot be wrong’ and just walked away.. WHAT?!!! Yes, the place is big as a hangar and it is right on the road , so they get a lot of hungry travelers, but strength is not in numbers..

Do yourselves a favor – skip the place !!
Now I will doubt other Fodor's recommendations!

djkbooks

So sorry for your dreadful experience! We had a similar one recently at Jasper White's Summer Shack in Cambridge, MA - a place highly recommended by everyone, everywhere, and even considered a "Hidden Jewel" by a highly regarded Boston restaurant critic.

I would encourage you not to doubt all recommendations in the future, though.

Sometimes places change ownership, management, head chef...then change again - all between publications. Often, reviews/recommendations are from years ago and no one has been there since to update the review.

On the other hand, we've been to many places folks report have "gone downhill", where apparently the problems have been corrected.

cigalechanta

Summer Shack had the worst grilled lobster I ever had. I 't think New Englanders know how to grill them like the French.

kauai_aka

"Being from NY, I am used to better attitude."

than yours?

maybe the forum said the views were great and the food was okay, i can't find that thread.

sorry for the poor dining experience. i've been to some hole-in-the-wall with great food, and some restraurants with great views but the food is overpriced and not that good.

clarkgriswold

Village Restaurant in downtown Camden is the place for me!

annieO

We ate at the Lobster Pound in June. The food was ok but our service was lousy. All the other tables around us had different servers and they got much better service than us. We finally had to go ask for our server to return to our table. Also, couldn't believe the huge amounts of food people ordered at the tables around us and they ate it all. Afterward, some locals told us a small place across the street has the best pizza and snadwiches around that whole area.

socialworker

Sorry about your experience. I don't know the place. I assume when you say that you will doubt other Fodor recs, you are referring to published pieces and not this board?

However, no place can suit everyone. I myself have wondered *why* so many people have enthusiastically recommended Summer Shack. The people I know( I live in the Boston area) have typically found it to be an unappealing atmosphere with mediocre food. There is no accounting for what appeals to some and not others. I am equally confused when people "dis" Legal Sea Foods which I have found to be of consistently high quality for >30 years. True, it has gotten pricey over the years, but the quality of the fish is superb.